Attachment for washing machines



June 2, 1931.

H. B. ROBBINS ATTACHMENT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed May 26} 1930 I I I f ATTORN EY Patented June 2, 1931 HAROLD B. ROBBINS, or want scams, was

ATTACHMENT FOR memes machines A plication filed May 26,

This invention relates to machines for washing fabrics, and more particularly to testing arrangements for determining the conditions'to which fabrics are subjected in the process of being washed.

It is common practice in the process of washing clothes or fabrics, to place them in a a rotary cylindrical drum provided with perforations through its surface. The cylinder 1 is caused to rotate in a suitable solution of water and soap or other cleansing agent which passes through the perforations and circulates about the clothes or fabrics which are agitated by the rotation of the drum.

After the goods have undergone the necessary washing process they are removed from the drum and other goods to be washed are inserted therein. These operations of inserting and removing the goods may continue indefinitely;

tests to insert a cloth test volved a loss of time in handling,

It is desirable at suitable intervals to make tests to determine the deteriorating effects,if any, of the washing solution upon the goods. It was formerly, customary in making these piece in the cylinder each time it was filled with goods to be washed, and to remove such test piece with the goods after each washing operation had been performed. This process of testing inand besides, gave little information as to the effect of the washing solution upon the fabric, due to the short time the test piece was subjected to't'he chemical action.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of this invention to providean arrangement by which the above outlined testing operations may be carried out expeditiously and efficiently.

Another object consists in incorporating such testing arrangement in any well-known type of washing machine in a comparatively simple and inexpensive manner.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages ther-eof, will be further explained in the following detailed 1930. semi 455521;.

description having reference to the accjoiii 'panying' drawings; consisting of the follow ing, figures c v Figure is a fragmentary view (if one are of the cylindrical drum, showing the iniproved arrangement applied therete Fig. 2 is an en view in section of Fig-2;}: Figs-.- 3 and 4; are eleaatiens of enemas fication of the improved arrangement; mas-r trating its closed respectively.- Q Fig. 5 is an elevation showing another modification of the arrangement; Q

Fig. '6 is an end yiew' f Figs; 3 and 5-, as viewed from the left. 1 Referring to the drawings; the reference 5 designates a cylindrical drum which forms a receptacle in which the goods to bewashed are deposited; This drum is of welhknowfi character andin practice is enclosed in a tuba lar outer casing (not shown A washing medium is introduced into this easing-,- and confined thereby so that it may becirculated through the drum 5 and its contained goods to be washed; The drum is rotatably "mount ed in a horizontal position on trunnions 6; The drum 5 and its associated elements may be made of any suitable materialsuch as sheet metal, and perforations 7 eiten' drum wall. While only afew of these perforations are shownin the drawings, it will be understood that they are provided; substantially throughout the drumto readily permit ingress and egress of the washing solution when the Washing machine is in service.-

The drum includes a plurality of arbuate members 8 which are formed to provide a series of inwardly extending'ribs or baffleswt).

and opened positions,

The members 9 are disposed longitudinally" of the drum, and although shown asbeiiig four in number and of substantially U-shape in cross-section, they may b'eof such number and formas maybe desired, their purpose being to lift andagitate the goods to laundered as thedrum rotates; ;A;- door, IQis mounted to slide circumferent'ally of the drum 5; as-is' more clearlyshown in Fig. 2. The door in its open position permits the insertion and Withdrawal of 'goodsj from the interior of the drum, and in closed positiofi through the i serves with the drum to provide an enclosure in which the goods are washed. The cover 10 is slidably mounted in a groove 11 pro vided on the circular surface of the drum, and a shoulder 12 at the end of the groove acts as a stop for the cover to limit its movement in an open position. Latching or fastening means, such as indicated at 18, may serve to securely lock the door when it is in closed position.

An auxiliary receptacle or compartment is provided in one of the ribs or baflies 9, and the wall or end flange 1 1 of the drum may form one outer wall for such compartment. The lower wall of the compartment is formed by the substantially U-shaped rib 9, and a plate 15-fitted into said rib comprises'the inner wall of the compartment. This plate forms a partition in the rib, and it has a flange16 which is riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the sides and bottom of the v rib. The top' of the compartment is closed by'a perforated arcuate-shaped cover plate 17 which is slidably mounted in parallel grooves 18, 18 provided in opposite sides of the rib section. The plate 17 in the modification shown in Figs. 3and 4, is provided with 'aflange 19; This flange is seated on a bracket 20 secured to the wall 14: when the compartmeritis' closed, thereby forming a tight joint to prevent the test fabric from working out during the washing process. The flange acts {as a stop to limit the outward travel of the plate 17 when the compartment is fully opened. In themodiflcation shown in Figs. 5 and6, the plate 17 is provided with a down- ZWardlyeXtending finger 21 which engages the p'late15 to limitthe outward movement of the cover plate 17 in the fully opened position of the compartment. In the closed position of the cover plate, shoulder 19 serves to prevent the fabric from working out.

Theplate 17 has an angular extension 23 which lies in the rib in a position parallel to the plate 15. In the closed position of the compartment, these plates are secured together bysomesuch means as a stud, which extends through the aperture in the plate 23 and-the screw threaded hole in the plate 15, and has wing-like members applied thereto at its outer end in order that it may be easily manipulated. To open the compartment the stud is unscrewed from the opening in the plate 15 and'the plate 17 is'moved to the left, carrying with it the stud, as shown in Fig. 4. r I I In the operation of thearrangement, a test cloth of suitable character and dimension is inserted in the compartment and its cover isythen closed and locked. The test cloth is retained in the compartment through a comparatively large number'of washing operations ofdiflerent lots of'goods. The perforations in the walls-of the compartment permit the solution used for washing the These tests determine the functioning of the washing machine, the eiiect of the washing solution, and the quality of the washing.

lVhile there are shown and described herein certain forms of the invention by way of illustration, it will be understood that it is not limited or confined to the precise details of construction herein described and deline ated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods, a plurality of inwardly disposed hollow ribs extending longitudinally of the receptacle, and an auxiliary receptacle for test goods, said auxiliary receptacle having certain of its walls formed from one of said ribs.

" 2. A washing machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods, a plurality of inwardly disposed hollow ribs extending longitudinally of the receptacle, an auxiliary receptacle for test goods, said auxiliary receptacle having certain of its walls formed from one of said ribs, and a cover plate for the auxiliary receptacle slidably mounted on such rib.

3. A machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods to be washed, a plurality of inwardly disposed hollow ribsextending longitudinally of the receptacle, said receptacle and ribs having perforated walls, an auxiliary receptacle for test goods, said auxiliary receptacle having certain of its walls formed from one'of said ribs, and a perforated cover plate for the auxiliary receptacle slid ably mounted on the top portion of the walls of such rib.

4. A machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods to be washed, a plurality of ribs substantially U-shaped in cross section extending longitudinally of the receptacle, said receptacle and ribs having perforated walls, an auxiliary receptacle for test goods, said receptacle having certain of its walls formed from one of said ribs, and a perforated coverplate'for the auxiliary re-' ceptacle slidably mounted on the walls of such rib.

5. A machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods to be washed, end walls for said receptacle, a plurality of ribs substantially U-shaped in cross section extending between said end walls, said receptacle and ribs having perforated surfaces, a partition in one of said ribs, the walls of said rib and the partition therein together with the segmental portion of one said first mentioned receptacle forming an auxiliary receptacle, and a perforated cover slidably connected W1th the aforementioned rib.

6. A machine comprising a rotary mounted receptacle for goods to be washed, end walls for said receptacle, a plurality of ribs substantially U-shaped in cross section extending between said end walls, said receptacle and ribs having perforated surfaces, a partition in one of said ribs, the walls of said rib and the partition therein together with the segmental portion of one of the end walls of said first mentioned receptacle forming an auxiliary receptacle, a perforated cover slidably associated with the aforementioned rib, and means to lock said cover in closed position to retain test fabrics in the auxiliary receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 23rd day of May, 1930.

HAROLD B. ROBBINS.

of the end walls of 

